Flexible pipe joint



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,796

E. A. RUSSELL FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT Filed March 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet J3 6 ITufnm Edwin 14511589];

Oct. 16, 1928.

E. A. RUSSELL FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT Filed March 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 16 1928.,

UNITED STATES PATENT voi-"i-"ica. j

EDWARD A. RUSSELL, or onIo eo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VAPOR can HEATING con 'PANY, me, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or 'Nnwxonx.

FLEXIBLE PIPE JQINT.-

Application filedyliarch I0, 1927. Serial No. 174,203.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in flexible joints, particularly adapted for usein a conduit or tubular structureconsisting of metal 'elements flexibly articulated so as to form a fluid tight connection between the train pipes of the adjacent cars of a railwaytrain. The particular improvement consists in soforming the flexible joints that each is provided with an inner fluid passage of sub-' stantially uniform and unbroken cross section, so that a substantially uniform andv continuous steam passage is formed through the joint and thepipes connected thereby. I

Each-conduit consists in general, of a vertically disposed conduit member, which is suspended from the end of the car .train pipe, and a horizontally disposed conduit ber, so that the requisiteflexibility is 'PI'O". vided' to permitthe engagement or disengagement of the couplers, and to allow the articulated members a range of movements necessaryin order that' the connection may accommodate itself to themovements of the car with respect to the adjacent car when the train rounds curvesor passes over inequalities in the track. I

Preferably and'usually the flexible joints used are'of the ball and socket type,.anddu e to the irregular internal form of the ball and socket members, and the sealing means employed therebetween, numerouspockets or projections have remained along the walls of the steam passage through the flexible joint, These tend to form eddy currents, and otherwise impede the free flow of the steam, and the particular object of this invention is to so formthe' members of the flexiblejoint .as to eliminate these pockets .and provide a smooth and uniform steam.

.passage'through the joint. I I

Other objects and advantages of this in- -ventionwill be mor'eapparent from the fol- Iduit when disconnected from the adjacent car. The flexible joints A and B may be,

lowing detailed description bf a Carmin proved form of apparatus involving the principles of this invention. i 1

Inthe accompanying drawings: I Fig. 1 .is an elevation of one ofthe flexible conduit assemblies, showing the manner in which the improved flexible joints are used.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through "60 one approved form of flexible joint.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partially broken awayfof thesleeve memberused in the socket member shown in Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 ofthe sleeve member used in the ball .memberof Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, which shows'one of the two identical conduit structures used to connectthe train pipes of adjacent cars, A and B indicate the two flexible joints.

er 1 from' Ithe end of the. train pipe 2 on the car- The ballmemberof joint A supports the vertically extending'pipe" section 3 which has an elbow 4 connecting with one member of the flexible joint B. The other The socket member of joint A is supported in avert cal position by means of the adaptmember of flexible joint B. connects with the pipe section 5' leading to the coupler member 6 of well known construction, adapted to mate with afcorrespondingcou- 'pler on the flexible conduit of thezadjacent 7 car. I Theflexible connection 7 is adapted to support the horizontal-portionof the conand preferably are, of similar construction,

' and ifdesired the coupler B may be positioned vertically abovethe' elbow 4 instead ofin .the horizontal position shown. It is desirable that the steam passage leading from "the train pipe 2 of one car through the joined flexible conduits to the corresponding train pipe of the adjacent car be as lopen and uninterrupted as possible so as not to impede the free flow of thesteam, and as a step towardthis end the improved flexible joints hereinafter described in detail and claimed have been devised- I I 7 Referring now; also to Figs. 2, 3'and 4,

. which show one'app roved formof'the joint,

-8 and Q-indicate the .ball and socket mem bers respectively of the joint, these members being threaded at their free ends 10 and 11 to connect with the adjacent pipe sections. An articulating ring 1:2 is pivoted at diametrically opposite points by means of studs 13 to the large open end portion M of socket member 9, and similar studs 15 (see Fig. 1 ositioned at 90v from t 1e studs 13 Q P V i i pivotally connect ring 12 with diametrically on aosite arms 16oro"ect1ne uowardl :troin .L l k l.

ring 17 which is swiveled about the ball.

member 8 behind the projecting flange or shoulder 18. The articulating mechanism just described serves to support the globular portion 1901 the ball member 9 in centered position within the cylindrical opening 20 in socket member 9, but permits a limited rotation or oscillation oi the ball meinl er in any direction about its own center. A

gasket 21 of rubber composition or other- 20 suitable packing material the housing 20 of the socket member to seal is slidable the joint between the socket member the lnner end of the globular member 19 oil: the ball member. An expansion spring 22 confined between "a shoulder 23 of socket 9 and a follower 24 the rear end of gasket 21 serves to force the gasket yieldably into the annular space between the ball and socket members to seal the joint at alltimes, and to take up wear of the gasket.

Flexible joints of the type just briefly described have been found very elncient for connecting the pipe sections of the flexible conduit construction, since they maintain a steam tight joint while permittingthe necessary tlexibility, and at the same time a tree steam passage is permitted throu h the joint since all of the articulating mechanism located exteriorly oi the steam passage.

However as heretofore COIlScTLlCiQCl the walls of the steam passage through to joint have been rough and uneven due tothe pocketformed within the hollow globular member 19, the pocket or housing in socket 9 which accommooate's thespring 22, follower 2e and gasket 2l,'and to the uneven projections presented b the s 1'111" follower and u L r t2 9 the rree ed e 2( or the lobular member i9. m n a b I lhe resistance oliered by th se pro ections,

one the eddy 'currentsset upin the pockets act to impede the passage ot steam through thejoint, and to decrease the eiiiciency o f the steam condu1t.

According to this invention, a tubular eo'sleeve 28 has been added within the ball member 8. his sleeve 28 may be threaded at one end as at 29 to engage a correspondingly threaded portionwithin the neck of the ball member, and the other open end of sleeve 28 is of a size to lit snugly within the open end 27 of the globular ball member 19. A similar sleeve member 30 is threaded at 31 to engage within the neck portion of socket member 9. The other end of sleeve 30 is flared outwa'rdl at 32 to enwhich it is connected. 7 7

within gage the outer surface of the end portion 27 of the globular member 19. 7 E28 and 30 are preferably of the same internal The sleeves diameter as the neck portionsotthe balland socket members, and the pipe sections to which the flexible joint is attached, Consequently, when the joint is in its normal unflexed position, as shown. in igj 2,a substantially continuous, uniform, and unbroken, steam passage is provided'through the flexible joint, which forms substantially a continuation of the pipe sections with the members, a cylindrical sleeve of the same inner diameter as the pipe sections threaded within the'first mentioned pipe sectlonand ball member for sealing the joint between extending'into proximity with the open end of the ball, and a similar sleeve threaded within the other pipe section and extending tliroughthe ball to its open end, whereby when the sections are m alignment a continnone unbroken passage of constant diameter is formed through the'j oint.

2. A flexible joint comprising a pair of.

pipe sections of similar inner diameter, one terminatin in an enlar ed socket member 9: b a V o the other terminating in a hollow ball memher, articulating means for holding the ball member centered within thesocket member, an annular gasket housed within the socket inen'iber, spring means for-forcing the gasket into engagement with the outer spherical surface of the ballto seal the joint between the members, a cylindrical sleeve of thefsai'ne inner diameter as tlie'pipe sections secured w thin the first mentioned pipe section and eliccli "ding into proximity to the open end of the ball and then flared outwardly along-the outer surface ot the ball toward the gasket whereby the gasket and spring means are completely housed between the socketand sleeve in all positions 01" the ballmember.

and a second similar sleeve secured within be other pipe section and extending through the ball to its open end, whereby when the sections are in alignment a continuous unbroken passage of constant *diameter is termed through the joint; 3. A flexible joint comprising a pair of pipe sections of similar inner diameter, one

terminating in an enlarged socketmember,

the other terminating in a-hollow ball'member, articulating means for holding the ball member centeredwithin the socket member,

means housedwithin the socket member and engaging the outer spherical surface of the ball member for sealing the joint between the members, a cylindrical sheet metal sleeve section and extending into proximity with the open end of the ball, and a similar sheet metal sleeve of equal diameter secured within the other pipe section and extending through the ball to its open end, (whereby when the sections are in alignment a continuous unbroken passage of constant diameter is formed through the joint. v EDWARD A. RUSSELL. 

